Work on the new outdoor stage at the Felt Estate in Laketown Township is continuing as organizers announced the lineup for the first summer of concerts at the historic site.

“We’ve made admission to these concerts free so it encourages families to attend,” said Patty Meyer, director of the Friends of the Felt Estate and project manager for Felt Mansion and Estate restoration project. “We have a fantastic lineup of artists, and with food by Salt of the Earth, these concerts are sure to be great evening entertainment for everyone.”

The Friends of the Felt Estate received a $15,750 grant from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs in January for the stage at the estate, 6597 138th Ave.

The new stage is a rehabilitation of an existing foundation adjacent to the carriage house — the red two-story structure and barn were built before the mansion itself was constructed.

The Third Thursday Summer Concert Series starts May 15 with rockabilly performers Delilah DeWylde and the Lost Boys.

All concerts start at 7 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month. No coolers or pets. In case of rain, the concerts will be in the mansion ballroom. The ballroom is not handicapped accessible.

Food and drinks will be available for sale by Salt of the Earth, 114 E. Main St., Fennville.

Other performers are Detour (bluegrass) on June 19; Grupo Aye (salsa) on July 17; Zion Lion (reggae) on Aug. 21; and Madcat Midnight Blues Journey (blues) on Sept. 18.

The stage, called the Tippens Carriage House Stage, is named after Martin Clark Tippens, grandson of Dorr E. Felt who completed the 12,000-square-foot Felt Mansion in 1928 with 25 rooms.

Tippens was an actor who performed in more than 150 stage productions, including “Detective Story” with Charleton Heston. Other television and film appearances included portraying Ronald Reagan on “Not Necessarily the News,” “Alfred Hitchcock Presents,” “Quantum Leap” and “Gods and Generals.” He died Feb. 26 at age 77.

In 2003’s “Gods and Generals,” a Civil War film that was a prequel to “Gettysburg,” He played Dr. George Junkin

Felt was the inventor of the Comptometer, an adding machine. He died in 1930, and the family sold the house and property in 1949. During the next five decades, the mansion was home to the St. Augustine Seminary, and when that group expanded to new buildings on the property, the mansion was home to a group of cloistered nuns. In 1978, the state bought the land for a prison and used the mansion as the Michigan State Police headquarters. In 1991, the prison and state police post were closed because of budget cuts.

Laketown Township bought the 44 acres and mansion for $1 in 1996, and the prison buildings were demolished.

Renovations on the mansion itself are complete. It is open for tours and available for rentals for weddings, receptions and other events.